This blog's dedicated to promoting good deeds, charity, and the cause of a Greater Israel.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Once Upon a Busy Place in Baka

Bagel Bite is a
restaurant in Baka, a neighborhood that used to be home to a few thousand Arabs.
Today, it's a blossoming district of Jerusalem neighboring Talpiot and the
German Colony, about 40-minutes walk from the center of town, and another 15 to
the Wailing Wall. It's a busy place. You'll hear excited voices at any time of
the day--or night. There's always something to do here.

Even though I live in a highly contested area, you won’t hear a word of
politics at Bagel Bite because it’s a mixed staff of Jewish and Palestinian
workers who try to have as much fun as possible while making a living selling
bagels, and an assortment of foods ranging from muffins to sushi (sushi was
recently added to their already-packed menu).

I've been coming here ever since I moved from Efrat to Jerusalem a year ago.
It's a nice place with friendly waiters who do their best to make you happy,
leaving you wanting to hand them a big tip. I’ve made some really good friends
amongst both the staff and the usual customers. Somehow, I feel this is my “home
away from home.” I come to Bagel Bite whenever I have a writing assignment, or
need to finish a translation project. In fact, I’m sitting here now writing this.
One of my closest friends at Bagel Bite is a young Palestinian called “Baha.” I
recently helped him put together an application to a German university.
Yesterday he approached me and thanked me for having performed this act of kindness
towards him. And the result: he was accepted to study there! Now, it’s on to
bigger and better things for my friend, Baha.

Bagel Bite
allows people of different backgrounds to come together for a hearty meal. It’s
a place to read a good piece of literature, sip a cup of Latte, or do some
work. I’m grateful to the Bagel Bite staff for treating me like I’m one of
theirs. Even though I recently started working full-time, I continue frequenting
this busy place in Baka in search of the company of good people, and a refuge
from all the hustle and tussle of our beautiful capital.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Google+ Followers

Subscribe To Yesha Fighter

About Me

I was born in Moscow, Russia. We immigrated to the US when I was 7 and I made Aliya to Israel at the age of 19. I attended Tel-Aviv U. where I received a BA in English Lit. and General Studies. I'm fluent in: English, Russian and Hebrew. I run a site and work for an Israel Advocacy firm. I enjoy running social media pages, performing hip hop, reading, writing, playing chess, running, swimming and playing basketball. I'm a huge Chicago sports as well as Maccabi Tel-Aviv fan.